It’s stories like this that convince me that human beings simply need more than one spiritual path — even within western Christianity, some people only feel comfortable with traditional routes, others yearn for a liberal approach, etc. In any case, it’ll be interesting to see whether the number of ex-Anglican clergy joining this new Roman Catholic body (and conveniently allowed to keep their spouses, if they’re already married) comes close to the hundreds of Catholic priests who have become Protestant in order to marry.

Wonder what the priests who were originally ordained by the RCC, and aren’t allowed to marry, think of the newly converted priests who come from the Anglican/Episcopal churches WITH a wife? THEY get to have a life with a woman where as the Catholic priests can’t enjoy that, should they wish to. Does that make for harmony among priests?

So the converted priests are allowed to have a partner for life, as they came with wives, but those that don’t come with a wife, aren’t supposed to have any physical gratification? ( female we assume, since gay priests are frowned upon). Double standard. The RCC is so excited that they are getting new recruits (even married ones) that they can relax the “no marriage” rule. They are in need of priests, so they take the desserters from another faith. Funny,centuries ago RC priests were allowed wives. Then it became a “no-no”. I’d stick with the Anglicans and Epsicopals.

I’ve never seen anything to indicate that these folks had any interest in becoming Catholic out of sincere belief. It’s a group of Anglicans who was miffed about one theological/social issue who decided they were going to take their bat and ball and play in some other league. For the Vatican, it was a chance to score a public coup in the culture war. These guys “converting” are still essentially Anglicans with the right to operate a Catholic franchise. That says to me that loyalty to the pope and his culture war agenda are the only core aspects to being Catholic. Everything else is apparently negotiable.

The obvious thing for priests in love to do is to become Anglicans, where they may well be able to earn a living a while, get married, and after a suitable time rejoin the Church. Of course if their love happens to fall the other way life’s not so simple. But they’re probably used to that.
It is good when you can change religions. It’s easier for everyone when parents don’t push kids into a religion before they’re adults so they can make up their own minds.

I was raised Anglican/Episcopal because my maternal grandma was a Brit, and I really enjoyed it. The only reason I converted out of it in ’98 was because it just wasn’t right for me anymore. It was (IMHO) too heavy on comfort and trappings and too light on answers and reality. I still love and respect it, though; and my wife still practices it.

Priests give up marriage or “worldly pleasures”, for their calling? So does that mean that worldly gratifications equal a wife, a husband, or children? My husband and I thought it was all about love and committment. Strange how interpretation changes lives, isn’t it?

Having been an Anglican now, for about fifteen years, now, and am loving it more than ever, as we’re gradually becoming more progresive, and whilst I have to be careful as one, as these fundamentalists need our love, not condemnation, it’s sad that these conservatives seem to love being stuck in the dark ages. Whilst I acknowlege that not all fundamentalists are bad(a few of whom, who I’ll keep anonymous out respect, are some of the nicest people one could hope to meet!!), it’s sad that these Anglicans love being stuck in the dark ages. Scripture, contrary to sadly wideheld belief is not static. For example, the very character of Jesus changes from Gospel to Gospel, and yet, a great many of Christians today, “hold it a litmus test of their faith, that they embrace a thousand year held ideas. And are proud of it!”(Living the Questions 2-Session 9 “Out into the World-Challenges Facing Progressive Christians”.

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About the Author

Nicole NerouliasNicole Neroulias is a freelance writer and correspondent for Religion News Service, a secular news and photo service devoted to unbiased coverage of religion and ethics. A graduate of Cornell University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she has previously written for The New York Times and other media outlets. She and her family live in Seattle.